Assignment no 1

LLB

(LAW -SOC 1101)

Submitted to:

Ma’am Maria

Submitted by:

Abdullah Saleh (5054)

Topic:

Religious Extremism in Pakistan

INTRODUCTION

Religious extremism refers to one religious group thinking that their belief and sect is correct
while all other sects, contradicting their beliefs or following a different school of thought, are
false and void. Religious extremism basically refers to a belief system or ideology held by
individuals or groups who hold extreme or radical views based on their interpretation of a
particular religion. Religious extremists may believe that their interpretation of their religion is
the only one that is true or legitimate, and they may be willing to use violence or other coercive
tactics to impose their views or to get rid of anyone they perceive to be in opposition. Religious
extremism can take many forms, including violence, intolerance, prejudice, and the exclusion of
people who hold different beliefs. It is important to understand that no one is born an extremist.
Extremism has no religion, caste, gender, or age. It is a result of several interactions,
experiences, and influences. At the core of extremist ideology, is a narrative of “us vs them”.
Extremists either consider themselves superior to others or believe that they are being victimized.
They refuse to accept any other narrative that does not support their point of view.

RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan has had a long history of religious extremism, which has had a significant impact on the
country's political and social landscape. The origins of religious extremism in Pakistan can be
traced back to the country's creation in 1947, which was based on the idea of a separate Muslim
state. The topic of religious extremism in Pakistan is very controversial as it is widely believed
by its netizens that Pakistan came into being on the basis of religion or that the ideology of a
separate homeland majorly relies upon religion. The rise of extremist groups in Pakistan can be
traced back to the 1970s, when various religious and political parties began to emerge, often
using nonsense religious orations to mobilize their supporters. During the 1980s, Zia-ul-Haq
introduced the Hudood Ordinances. These laws were controversial, and critics argued that they
were discriminatory and violated the rights of women and minorities. In the 1990s, Pakistan saw
the emergence of sectarian violence between different religious groups, particularly between
Sunni and Shia Muslims. Tensions between the Sunni and Shia sects have led to violence and
unrest. There have been numerous events of extremism between Sunnis and Shias in Pakistan
including, the bombing of a Shia mosque in Parachinar in 2017, the bombing of a Shia mosque
in Quetta in 2013, the bombing of a Shia procession in Karachi in 2009 and many others.
Sectarian violence has been fueled by a range of factors, including political and economic
instability, poverty, and the influence of extremist religious ideologies. The Pakistani
government has taken steps to combat extremism and sectarian violence, including increasing
security measures and crack down operations on extremist groups aimed at targeting extremism.
Pakistan has been continuously struggling with religious extremism. People have become
extremely sensitive towards their beliefs and are easily offended by any statement or idea that is
different from their school of thought. Intolerance among the Pakistanis is evident from
numerous lynching incidents. The most recent incident of lynching is the extra-judicial killing of
a man accused of blasphemy in Nankana Sahib on Feb 11, 2023.

CAUSES

There is no single cause of religious extremism in Pakistan. Rather, it is the result of a complex
interplay of social, economic, political, and historical factors.

1. Political Instability: Military coups, weak democratic institutions, and corrupt

politicians have undermined the stability and legitimacy of the state. This has created a
power vacuum that religious extremist groups have been able to exploit.
2. Education System: The education system in Pakistan has been criticized for promoting a
narrow and ideologically driven version of Islam. Many madrassas teach a strict and
conservative interpretation of Islam.
3. Economic Inequality: Economic disparities have created a sense of resentment among
many people. Religious extremist groups have been able to exploit this sense of
marginalization and offer an alternative vision of society based on religious solidarity and
social justice.
4. Historical Legacy: Pakistan's history is characterized by a legacy of sectarian conflict
and violence. After the partition in 1947, Pakistan was established as a homeland for
Indian Muslims, and the event was characterized by intense intergroup conflict. This
legacy has contributed to a climate of suspicion and intolerance between different
religious and ethnic groups.
5. Regional Politics: Pakistan is located in a volatile region, with neighboring countries
such as India, Afghanistan, and Iran. Regional conflicts and political tensions have
 spilled over into Pakistan and contributed to the rise of religious extremism. For instance,
the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

SUMMARY OF A REPORT

Extremism is like a cancer, an impending catastrophe that remains a threat to the integrity of the
country. In order to survive in an era of rampant conflicts, there is dire need of respect for other
faiths and beliefs. But, in order to move forward it is first necessary to elucidate what extremism
is in a religious context. Firstly, it can be thought of as the imputation of derogatory words
against sacred personalities or places. Secondly, it is the twisted rhetoric used to promote and
justify extreme acts. And thirdly, it is the ingrained mindset that one religion or sect is the most
superior. Countries like Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon have been destroyed due to sectarian
conflicts carried out by religious extremists. Pakistan, a country where politics is integrated with
religion is bound to breed ignorance and intolerance. Furthermore, religious bigots are another
cause for concern. They are neither willing to listen to others’ viewpoint nor do they care for the
writ of the state. This type of evil, rooted in extreme ideology, bespatter the peace of country.
The only way forward is to make a sustainable and acceptable religious policy with the
consensus of all stakeholders. Only if this issue is settled, Pakistan can steer towards social,
political and economic development.

Jaber Abbas Sargana

October 27th, 2022

SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS

Religious extremism in Pakistan has been shaped by a number of socio-cultural factors,

including:

1. Historical Context: Pakistan was created as an Islamic state in 1947, and religion has
played a significant role in its politics and culture ever since. The ideology of Pakistan is
based upon Islam and some people use this narrative to justify their extremist acts.
2. Education System: Education doesn’t necessarily reduce extremism, in most cases, we
have to change the message within the education itself. In schools in Pakistan, the
curriculum develops prejudice from the very beginning by using derogatory languages
 against minorities and teaching narrowed down, discriminatory versions of history and
culture.
3. Political Instability: Pakistan has experienced political instability and corruption for
many years, which has contributed to the growth of religious extremism. Some extremist
groups have exploited this instability to gain support and carry out violent attacks.
4. Economic Factors: Poverty and economic hardship have also contributed to the growth
of religious extremism in Pakistan. People have lost the hope for a better future, extremist
assure them of an alternative which ensures a better tomorrow.
5. International Influences: The geographical position of Pakistan is very crucial. Events,
such as the rise of extremist groups in the Middle East and the war in Afghanistan have
had a significant impact on Pakistan's politics and culture and have contributed to the
growth of extremist groups within the country.

POLICIES

Pakistan has a complex history of dealing with religious extremism, and the government has
implemented various policies over the years in an attempt to address the issue. Here are some
of the key policies of the Pakistan government regarding religious extremism:

1. National Action Plan (NAP): In December 2014, after the deadly attack on an army
school in Peshawar, the government announced a 20-point National Action Plan
(NAP) to counter terrorism and religious extremism. The plan included measures
such as establishing military courts, launching intelligence-based operations against
terrorists and their facilitators, and cracking down on hate speech and extremist
material.
2. Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) policy: In 2014, the Pakistani government
also launched a policy to counter violent extremism, which focused on prevention and
rehabilitation, as well as law enforcement measures.
3. Madrassah Reform: In 2001, the government introduced the Madrassah Registration
and Regulation Ordinance, which required all madrassahs to register with the
government and provide details about their sources of funding, curriculum, and
teachers.
 4. Anti-Blasphemy Laws: Pakistan's blasphemy laws impose severe penalties for
insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Although this law targeted
extremism and radicalization, it has this been criticized for being used to target
religious minorities and stifling free speech.
5. Crackdown on Extremist Groups: The Pakistani government has also launched
military operations and crackdowns against various extremist groups, such as the
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which are responsible
for numerous terrorist attacks in the country.

REFERENCES

[ J. A. Sargana, "Religious Extremism," Express Tribune, Rawalpindi, 2022.

1
]

[ H. Nadim, "What causes extremism," University of Sydney, Sydney, 2017.

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]

[ M. A. U. Din, "Causes of Religious Extremism in Pakistan," Sahib e Haal , Lahore, 2022.

3
]

[ A. Chaudhry, "Nankana Sahib lynching case," DAWN, Lahore, 2023.

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]